spikeict
fully equipped rock polisher
Alba gu bra! In Promptu
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,413
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Post by spikeict on Aug 15, 2007 21:49:55 GMT -5
I asked about this awhile back and got great responses so I am turning to you again.
Let me explain: In our small town we have two events in October, one is Art in the park pretty self explanatory, people and companies who make things gather in the main park in town to sell what they have. The other has only been around a few years and is called holidaize basically the same thing but more individuals rather than companies.
I have been told that more people attended the later than the former last year and have been encouraged to set up a table there. For awhile I have been thinking yeah, I'll do that, but tonight the call went out for people to sign up and I am getting cold feet.
First off "if" I do this I do not expect to sell one single thing. But want to get my name out there, as in to the people that are there to sell.
So with that out of the way, My idea is this: What I have to sell is either drilled or have glue on back silver or chrome bails (they look nice) and when able have one of my daughters behind the tables while I work up cabs behind her stopping and answering questions if they come up. I am thinking that the noise and activity of the grinding would get peoples attention.
Forgot to mention that Art in the park is a open air affair and the one I am thinking about is under the grandstands at the fairgrounds. Also that Holidaze is geared toward future Christmas presents. Oh yeah, they are both on the same day.
Tell me what you think and feel free to be brutally honest.
Thanks for any help
Mark
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Post by Lady B on Aug 15, 2007 22:17:23 GMT -5
First off "if" I do this I do not expect to sell one single thing. But want to get my name out there, as in to the people that are there to sell. So with that out of the way, My idea is this: What I have to sell is either drilled or have glue on back silver or chrome bails (they look nice) and when able have one of my daughters behind the tables while I work up cabs behind her stopping and answering questions if they come up. I am thinking that the noise and activity of the grinding would get peoples attention. Tell me what you think and feel free to be brutally honest. Thanks for any help Mark Hi Mark, Thank you for allowing for us to be "brutally honest". My first thought is that you should definitely warm up those feet and enter one of these two events. ;D Next, go into the event thinking: "I am GOOD at what I do!" Expect to sell something, even if it is just one thing. Sam Walton sold stuff out of the back of his pick-up and look where that got him!  Excellent thinking. When I go to one of these types of events, I LOVE to see the artisan at work. It just makes the end result more real for me. I get the sense that this is not a mass production but the result of this artist's creativity and talent.  Now, which show should you enter, given that both are occurring on the same day?  That's a tough call, so I will speak from the perspective of an attendee. I love to go to Art shows. I love to see hand made crafts, too. But once October comes around I am changing my focus from "What would look good in our home?" to "What gift would be just right for Eliza, or Tim this Christmas? Would Donna hang this in her living room or kitchen? Should I get Sara the necklace and Oh! Those dainty earrings will be perfect for Ann. Wow! Bob will just love the craftsmanship that went into this piece." In other words, I like Art Shows in Spring and Summer but I love Holiday-themed shows come Fall. So what you need to ask yourself is: Do you want to enter a show where people will see your work and ooh and aah as they then pass on to the next booth so they can again ooh and aah? Or do you want, for this first showing of your work, to enter a show where people are probably more likely to have a mind-set that is telling them to check their list twice and find all the gifts they can afford for all the folks who are nice (and sometimes naughty, too)? I say go for it! But only you can determine which direction is best for you once you warm up those cold feet. And there you have it! My 2 cents. |
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Post by rockds on Aug 15, 2007 23:41:14 GMT -5
I'd do the one inside, bring your grinder and set it up (for show) but I would probably not turn it on - don't know what yours sounds like but when I grind, I put ear plugs in. I was planning on setting up a table at our local fair but seems I wont be able to do so this year. I wish you the best of luck and I'd go in with a better attitude. I think your work is good, so expect to sell it. Make you up some cards to hand out to people. Bring some rough rock and some slabs and explain to people that if they see something they like that's not made already, you'd be happy to make it up for them.
my two pennies
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,496
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Post by Sabre52 on Aug 15, 2007 23:42:56 GMT -5
Howdy Mark, I'd sure jump in and give it a try. From what I've seen of your cabs, which are pretty darn awesome, I think you'll sell more than you think. Stone jewelry seems in vogue right now and those smaller venues are probably a good place to get your feet wet. It will also give you a feel for prices and whether or not you feel you can get prices that will justify the effort and expense you put into your pieces. ( I ran into some difficulty with this in my swapmeet sale attempts) The most difficult part of that sort of situation I've encountered though,is that you will undoubtedly get folks who want something made up special. I found I did not like the pressure of having to do stuff for others instead of just doing what pleases me. Small shows should rapidly give you a feel for how you feel about working on pieces for buyers. Anyway, give it a try. good luck, and make sure and let us know how it goes.....Mel
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Post by Tony W on Aug 16, 2007 0:04:35 GMT -5
Mark, I've been doing shows for 45 years off and on, and they are all different, but the one thing that seems to be true is... if they like it they'll buy it. So what you need to do is show some stuff, break the ice, then refine your product until they start buying you out Adjust the price as needed remembering that to be fair to the folks that supported you early you can't drop your prices if you aren't selling. At least not big price items. If I come buy something the first day, and tell my friend Jane, and she buys something nearly identical for half price the next day, or next week, well, I'm mad and you've lost a repeat customer. So start low and go up as demand increases. And don't hide behind the grinder. Folks will gather around to see what you are doing so work up a banter, and chat with them. Folks will buy personality as well as product. So put you and the grinder up front so you gather up a crowd. And if you are shy just work up a little educational paragraph or two and repeat it all day with variations until you are comfortable being on stage and are willing to let your inner actor out and start dazzling them Have fun! Shows are cool, if you like people, but they are hard work, so get lots of rest. T |
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spikeict
fully equipped rock polisher
Alba gu bra! In Promptu
Member since November 2006
Posts: 1,413
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Post by spikeict on Aug 16, 2007 0:28:34 GMT -5
I went to bed after posting this. I laid there going over what I had said and decided to get up and delete it hoping no one had seen it yet. During what seemed like a hour (If you are using Norton you know what I mean) of booting up I realized the real question, Am I good enough? I thought if someone actually replied (And I could not wipe out any trace) would ask that question and add that silence would not be held against anyone.
You all have brought up somethings that I have thought about. ie Do you like the rock but not the pattern? or visa versa? If possible I will try. The price thing I thought I would explain as in hard to get rock and Lady Bea Bea you read my mind though I could not put it into words.
I have not had this lack of confidence in many years, the only thing I can think of is that I have never seen this done and only glanced at books which really made no sense to me and thought they were silly, fill the pages with words that do not count.
I will call the number tomorrow and see how long I have to decide.
Thank you
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rallyrocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2005
Posts: 1,507
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Post by rallyrocks on Aug 16, 2007 0:30:46 GMT -5
I agree that setting up and being there is the hard part, I did a two-day "gifty" show at a local art place last year and did way better than I'd imagined I would, and I didn't have any finished pieces, just loose cabs and tumbled stuff, and actually the tumbled stuff sold almost as well as the cabs did.
I was really apprehensive at first, like you not knowing what anything I had done might be worth, I just assigned prices that I thought were a bit too high for things I liked and a little too low for the pieces I wasn't so fond of.
Once I had my goods labeled and a fairly nice presentation worked up, I loosened up and had fun with it, not everyone stopped or even looked at my stuff, but those that did very often came back for a second look and many did wind up buying things, even if only a couple dollars worth at a time, but over a few hours it adds up.
And I was pleased to find that even with aggressive pricing, quite a few of my favorites wound up being sold.
I can hardly wait for this year!
With you having some "real" ready-to-wear items, even if only drilled or on simple findings- I'd bet you would do pretty well at either event.
Picking which one to attend is a little harder, but me personally- I'd probably be leaning towards the Holidaze thing as I'd imagine the Art in the Park-ers might be not only fewer in number, but also a bit pickier than the Holidaze crowd.
Too bad you can't do both though, whose in charge of planning this silliness around there anyway?!
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Post by larrywyland3 on Aug 16, 2007 7:57:31 GMT -5
If it was me I would go; even if I felt unprepared. Experience has taught me just being around other people who are doing what I like to do helps me get better and more confident. Next, is one of the rules to being successful I try and follow. Be the person you want to become. You'll have cold feet, butterflies in your stomach; you'll think you are sounding funny when you talk to people or may have rambled on for too long. I think your cold feet are a sign you are headed in the right direction. We are our own worst critics and enemies. The safe thing we feel we must do is not do something different. The uncomfortable things we feel are just the way the mind says we are doing something different and we need to be careful. Make a list of what you need check it twice and go for it I would bring the grinder. In the down times you can get some work done and it may bring people over; also people like to see how things get done. I agree the noise is loud and you should not grind if it bothers other venders. When customers come around I would turn it off and talk to them. Something usually catches someone's eye. I just look at what they are looking at and make a comment and let them hold it. Sometimes people want to hear all about were its from and how I made it. Sometimes they say oh nice and hand it back. I have found once people see the equipment involved and the time to produce one cab; they feel more comfortable buying. I had one lady who wanted to give me some rocks to tumble; she wanted them back in a couple days; when I told her it took about 5 weeks she was shocked. She said I though you just tossed em in a barrel and the rolled around for a day and came out shiny LMAO. After I told her the process the few dollars I was gonna charge seemed like a deal. I have vended for almost a year now; only 4 weekends. It's a lot of fun. It sound like one place is more indoors; that is the one I would head towards. Just my preference. |
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Post by akansan on Aug 16, 2007 8:07:36 GMT -5
Mark, I'm looking into to of our holiday shows as well. The one comment I always hear when I attend the shows - not with a table, just attend - is "Well I can do that!" Not everyone can do this hobby, which will be a major selling point at a holiday craft type show. And the number of people who do this hobby and present cabs as nice as those crazy lace pair you posted a couple days ago is even fewer. We have a nice group of them on this board, but think about the ratio of cabbers to enrolled and active members! Not only that - if you have some predrilled pendants, you can also attract the beading crowd. They're always on the lookout for another new focal piece. |
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raqy
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2007
Posts: 799
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Post by raqy on Aug 16, 2007 8:41:32 GMT -5
This is all true. Shows are fun, and thats all that matters. If I went to a show and saw your stuff there I would probably hang out there the most. You don't see this kind of thing too often. Like akansan said even some predrilled pendants and maybe even some cord or ribbon to hang them on. Ready made necklaces..ha
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onewomanarmy
has rocks in the head
Carpe Silicis!
Member since January 2007
Posts: 645
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Post by onewomanarmy on Aug 16, 2007 10:08:10 GMT -5
From what I've seen of the pieces you've done - I say go for it! I think you'll surprise yourself as to the interest you'll generate. I think having the grinder there is a good idea - I love to go to art shows and always find it interesting to see an artist demonstrating what they do - if nothing else, it will grab people's attention and cause them to slow down and take a look around. Another thing I think would be a nice touch - have some rough (the rougher the better in my book) so people can see what you start with - and the beauty you coax from that rough. People take things like rocks for granted and most have no idea what is hidden inside. I'd also have some slabs on hand - maybe some different types than the ones you've cabbed so the customers will realize the options and the chance of having something "custom" made. As for the cold feet - I can totally understand where you are coming from. I've dabbled in a few different artsy things and I'm never happy with what I've done - I can see every imperfection and blemish and "should have" - and I'd just as soon no one else see whatever it is I've made. Luckily, I've got someone here who pushes me to not immediately destroy or hide away what I've done and who seems to be thrilled with anything I make. Because of this, a few things I've done have made it out - and people really seem to like what I've done. Go figure! Of course, I still see all the imperfections in what I've done and am not sure whether to believe the outside "reviews". But, as I've been told time and time again - I'm my own worse enemy and therefore my judgement on things of this nature can't be trusted.  Need to let others be the judge. I'd venture to say this is possible for you too... |
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181lizard
Cave Dweller
Still lurking :)
Member since December 2005
Posts: 2,171
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Post by 181lizard on Aug 16, 2007 19:41:43 GMT -5
Mark...hell yeah it's kinda scary!
Brilliant to take the girls along with you. They'll help buffer some nerves should they appear!
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Post by stonesthatrock on Aug 17, 2007 3:28:55 GMT -5
there isn't much i can add, except, remember to keep it fun. People love to talk about rocks, as in where they came from, what kind etc. I've found that almost everyone who came to my table, either had a great story to tell about thier rocks. or knew someone who did. I have learned so much at the shows from all the other vendors, it amazes me. Goofie and I have only done this for a yr and our 4th show is coming up, and we can't wait. Both of us have alot of fun with the customers. Don't be nervous, as soon as the first person comes to your table and starts talking about rocks, you will forget how nervous you are or even why you were nervous.
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Post by sandsman1 on Aug 17, 2007 14:02:27 GMT -5
i say go to both and have fun -- i went to one in ms with kim and it was way more fun then i thought it would be i was like you alittle nervous but the people where great askin tons of questions and i made a few bucks -- all in all a great time and it broke the ice -- ill never worry about settin up at another one
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blarneystone
spending too much on rocks
Rocks in my head
Member since March 2010
Posts: 307
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Post by blarneystone on Aug 17, 2007 15:30:48 GMT -5
Go for it Mark! Once you get there and get set up the nerves will fade away and you'll wonder why you were nervous in the first place. I love going to thoses types of outdoor craft fairs because the people are usually very cool and they're a lot of fun!
Also, Ronda makes a great point. You are a much better cab cutter than you think. Not many people can do what you're doing, it's just that we have a high concentration of really great cabbers here.
Dan
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Post by beefjello on Aug 17, 2007 21:46:13 GMT -5
Well I don't have much to add except a hearty 'go for it'! You only go around once, so make the most of it. You cut a superior cab Mark. Show 'em off with pride.
Brian
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Need to let others be the judge. I'd venture to say this is possible for you too... 
